ship sizes used in games

[flykiller]

For those who moslty use for RPG, I guess ships over 1000 tons are only background (unless they are the setting), while players' ships use to be under 400. For those playing a more strategical game (let's say a TCS campign like the Islands one), larger ships are needed.

of ships/ports/facilities in your games, what is:

the largest player-character-controlled ship/port/facility?

and

the largest ship/port/facility you thought should have been deckplanned?

pcc: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000, 4000, 19000, 100000, 100000+
deckplanned: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000, 4000, 19000, 100000, 100000+

 

[mike wightman]

I regularly use the AHL deckplans - I have re-tasked them for a range of ships/stations over the years (the modular nature of the decks makes this pretty easy).

Alternity - Lighthouse, ICE SM - Action on Akashia Outstation, and even the Star Frontiers space station fold out map see regular use also.

For my Culture game the biggest ship is a PC - the GSV Argumentative Insertion (it's name changes from time to time). It is 75km long, 75km wide at its widest point and up to 40km thick at its thickest.

 

[McPerth]

In fact, it was 880 dtons (in MT) own design

But in most campaigns, ships have been in the 100-400 dtons range (fron Scout to Patrol Cruiser or Gazelle).

 

[flykiller]

It is 75km long, 75km wide at its widest point and up to 40km thick at its thickest.

read that and thought, "so?", and then realized the dimensions were in km ....

 

[mike wightman]

I think it works out at a trillion displacement tons or thereabouts - I just map the bits needed for adventures - or do a new Star Trek franchise and use the many maps I have of factories etc from other games for sections of the ship the players find themselves in.

It doesn't have a crew it has a population

 

[flykiller]

It doesn't have a crew it has a population

you mean an ecosystem.

 

[infojunky]

I have routinely handed out 1000 dTon merchant ships to groups of PCs, 50/50 split on whether said ships were unstreamline or partially streamlined.

I like the PCs to have depend on Smallcraft to wander around the system, it also allows for a larger cast of characters.

 

[mike wightman]

you mean an ecosystem.

Lol, yes, that too. Several different environments.
There is a central park like area which has lakes and forests, and a mountain range for winter sports; a tropical island chain; a rainforest - those are just the zones the players have had cause to visit.

 

[flykiller]

some people seem to be selecting a range of sizes. the poll would be more clear if only the maximum size (of ship used, then of deckplan desired, two votes) were indicated.

 

[Condottiere]

Form should follow function.

But starsips tend to be so expensive, they need to be gifted to the players.

In theory, manufacturers would have figured out models that optimize their profits, while buyers calculate which ones give them the most bang for their buck.

737s are still flying, though evolving, as are 707 military variants. Not many are enthusiastic about Chinese and Russian current airliners.

Basically, they fulfill actual needs or established niches for themselves that would be cost prohibitive to try and compete for.

 

[Hyphen]

Tavonni was originally run by PCs, although its more like an NPC thing these days. Biggest ship the Count has is a Kokkirak-which was (amazingly!) deckplanned (is that a verb now?) by Mongoose.

As for tonnages, Beowulf Down has a couple of 5000-ton bays, a bunch of 3000t bays, 1000t, and various sizes down to Scout-ship-sized. The port building is about 2 km long. So there's that. ;-)

 

[Quint]

Largest controlled? I've had a PC with an Imperial Warrant take command of a task force/battle group if that counts...

In play, I think the largest has been in 2kdton size, with most being in the 100-400 dton range simply because that is what is generally presented as ACS. I would love to have ships up to the 4kdton with deckplans because I think it is a under-represented size that is still within the range of potential PC control (even if arguably rare, depending upon the class of ship)

D.

 

[flykiller]

I've had a PC with an Imperial Warrant take command of a task force/battle group if that counts...

I was thinking of something that would need to be detailed to some degree, some part of which that the player/referee would point to and say, "there".

I would love to have ships up to the 4kdton with deckplans

passenger liner http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Gallery/index.php?n=2030

exploration cruiser http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Gallery/index.php?n=1895

 

[aramis]

I have, at various points, had PC's OWNING ships over 1MTd ... but the biggest map I've done was about 5000Td, and the AHL got used in play more than once.